Old Dog New Tricks Or Been Out Of The Truck A Long Time.

Ok! So here goes. I drove truck OTR , regional , local and city. So been there done that. Drove for well over 13 years. Got out of the truck under unfortunate circumstances. Yes my fault. Don't want to divulge at this time. Anywho. I almost immediate got a job dispatching gasoline/diesel tanker trucks for a local Cstore. Loved the job and was great at it. I should mention I was also a very decent, effective driver. It was a love/hate relationship with most of the time I absolutely loved driving and the freedoms it brung. Sorry to swing back and forth. But back to being out of the truck. While dispatching thinking I had the world by the gonads so to speak. Time came to renew my license and like an idiot I said 'nah f it I just get my regular license.' Now about 7 years later I want to drive again as I am tired of these little piddly jobs that think they're doing one a favor by paying them $10/hr and these are not permanent jobs. These jobs are contract or temp jobs. I know times have changed as I have a nephew that drives. From everything I'm 'seeing' I'll have to start over. Any tips? I live in the midwest. Call Iowa home. Is there any companies out there that has courses or whatever for someone that has drove been just been out of the truck too long? I can still drive a truck, remember shifting, turning, all of it like it was yesterday. I will say that I need to brush up on my backing.

Any company sponsored should most likely take you. Iowa isn't a bad recruiting state. You'll need to "start all over" but you'll need to simply do a refresher course because its been so long.

Charles, Daniel is absolutely right about the fact that you will have to start all over. For some reason truck driving is the only industry I know of where it doesn't matter if you've had twenty five years of experience, if you've been out of the truck for about six months they think you've totally forgotten everything.

There is some good news though, most companies will fast track you through the time with the trainer if you've had experience, and are showing good aptitude during the training time. You may just have to go with a trainer for a week or maybe two at the most if the trainer recognizes that you haven't lost all your skills.

Welcome back to trucking, and the best of luck to you! We'll be here for a sounding board or to answer any questions that might develop along the way.

Thank you much. Time to do some research. Hopefully find a company that we can I guess complement each other. Looking forward to the road again. I'll stay in touch. As I can see I can make helpful comments to those that's never been in a truck or maybe don't know what to expect. I'm glad there's a possibility of being fast tracked. But it is crazy they think one forgets in a short period of time. Maybe some do? Sheesh as little as 6 months? Now I can understand 7 years. On the plus I haven't forgotten everything.

Welcome aboard Charles!

Yeah, the Company-Sponsored Training Programs are a great place to start looking. They'll get you through the training, get your CDL testing done, and have you in a truck on the road making money as quickly as possible.

Now the other thing you can do is take a course at a private truck driving school. What you would want to do is start applying for pre-hires to trucking companies and they'll tell you what they require as far as schooling. Not every company accepts students from just anywhere, even with your previous experience. Like everyone mentioned above, they're going to treat you like you've never been in truck before. It's dumb, I know. But that's how they do it.

We have a new feature where you can apply for truck driving jobs to different companies with one application. Quick and easy. Any companies that accept you will give you a list of private schools they'll accept students from and they'll let you know if a simple refresher course will do or if they want you to take the entire course beginning to end. You will likely find a mix of both, so that will help you sort out your options.

Charles try calling my Company WEL. I have heard of SEVERAL Iinstances where they have put drivers back otr after 7 to 20 year lapses in driving with only one week local "training". No saying they will but its an option rather than go thru school again.

Thanks again. I will look into wel. Thank you Red Gator. Brett what is the address to do this application for the different companies that will tell me what I may need? The link seems to be broke. But think perhaps between talking to wel and getting my application out there would be best. And it would allow me to pick a company that'd best suit my needs. Example I don't like running the NE. As I suspect a lot of drivers don't. If I could stay at least out of NYC would be great. I'll not 'slam' the NE, but I cut my teeth early in my career the first time I drove. That being said we all have our reasons why, where, blah blah blah where we do and do not like/ want to run. Again thanks for the replies and they are very helpful. This is another reason I'm attracted to driving. Basically help is with in earshot if you will. Anyway if I could get that address it'd be much apreciated as I'm thinking will save time and hassles, ect. Be safe out there. Maybe cross paths one day, ya never know.

I think people are looking at that you drove 13 years ago and not about the part that you did not renew your CDL.

This is mainly for everyone else and not you Charles W.

He did not renew his CDL which in companies eye is the same as not having them in the first place. There will be no fast tracking or short refresher courses.

The only thing that will help is your prior knowledge of trucking and that will make it easier for you to pass the test and the driving portion but since you have to get your CDL all over again you can bet you wil have to pay the full amount for class. Now you may be able to take the test a bit earlier than some but can be assured you will have to pay for the entire class.

Not only that there is still the hour requirement (160 to 300 hours) required and accepted by almost every company.

7 years would be no big deal if you would have kept the cdl. Though your prior experience would not have counted due to length of time since last driving but at least you wold have been eligible for a refresher course, but as it is now having driven before will not be taken into account due to no current CDL and no resent experience of any kind.

I am sure you have been told this or knew this already and as I said before this post was mostly meant for the other people that may not have known this info.....

Now you mentioned something that happened in the past and that is your business if you choose not to disclose it. I understand that but depending on what it is it could impact future driving opportunities. Something to think about.

Thank you guyjax. Kind of thought that may be the case. I'll continue to persue this and gather info. Which I still believe would be beneficial in the end for both parties. As to what happened all those years ago it's something that I'm more ashamed of or mad at myself if you will. Not embarassed as much as being ashamed or po'd at myself. I guess here goes. Before I tell people this I want it understood that I'm in no way trying to justify or otherwise make what happened ok. So here goes. Around the time I had to do a random. I was home for the holidays. Life was pretty sucky to say the least. Just family life (was on my 2nd marriage) was terrible. Instead of looking like I want to lay blame, justify, ect. I just want to clarify I made a bad choice. So when I got that Qualcomm to call safety I knew I was most likely done. I peed hot for weed. It took like 2 weeks, but yeah I was done. What an ignorant decision I know. Talking with the safety director he was dissapointed to say the least as we had interaction on several occasions and he seemily took a liking to me. But understandably I knew his hands were tied. He told me it'd most likely be about 5 years before I would be considered anywhere other than maybe a fly by night carrier. I totally messed up a good gig. Was with them for about 5 years. Was constantly praised on my driving. Was never late once for a pick up or delivery. New truck every year, ect. I pretty much had it made in those regards. I don't like this fact. But your right. Could this still come to harm me in my quest? There's no getting around the DAC. I know this as well. That being said am I wasting peoples time and mine? Is this salvagable or should I forget about it? My nephew has a Gov gig and is doing very well for himself. He thinks I could get restarted and get a year under my belt and go drive for who he does. Driving an armored semi. Anyway feel better getting this out there, even though I know some will have a dim view.

I would not necessarily say it will hurt you. You should know all drug test are kept on record (not your DAC) at a drug testing clearing house hence the question "Have you ever refused/failed a drug test". They do check past testing history. Its something that you will have to be up front about cause it will be found out. Not judging you because you did something dumb. We have all done that at one time or another. I am assuming this was over 7 years ago when you first got out of trucking. May or may not make a difference. Companies have different polices when looking at past drug test. This changes things just a bit from applying at companies you are interested in to applying at every company/school that you can and I would recommend going through a company sponsored school simply due to the fact that if you complete school you will have a job afterwards. Even if its not the first company on your list you stay with them a year and you should be good on where you want to go later.

In either case be totally upfront and honest. Since it has been so long since that happened it might not be an issue.